This is kind of ironic. I wrote one of the first articles ever on data acquisition in grassroots racing more than 20 years ago. Then I never bothered to use it myself. The truth is I wrote articles to help fund my racing and to get free track time. But I digress.

I’ve finally committed to using the Solo2DL. So far what I’ve keyed in on is the segment time analysis. I used that to figure out which segments I can gain the most time on. Using that information I first compared video from my fastest times in those segments to video from some of the slower times through the same sections. I also compared my line in those segments to those of a few pro drivers in a somewhat similar car. I had to compare video since I don’t have their AIM data.

I also looked at the best theoretical lap time which gives some idea of what can be attained, though it’s somewhat compromised by traffic and other factors. The odds of a no or low traffic lap with the tires at optimum temperatures and pressures are minuscule. And other than laps with traffic my lap times don’t vary much.

What other aspects of the data should I be focusing on to help shave time off my laps?

 

I think the segment analysis is a key point and in RS3 Analysis beta, you can pull simple data from the SmartyCam along with auto synced video which makes this process a lot easier.

I think math channels to quantify coasting (how much or how little you’re doing), throttle and brake speed or smoothness, looking at your end of braking and assumption of maximum cornering transition using gSum (Combined g in all axis) works great. Also, consistency, like overlaying your three fastest laps and working on where you’re the most variable (see where the speed versus distance lines separate).

There’s a million ways to look at the information, but you need a plan and then do it every time. You can stage it to do a quick targeted review between sessions, deeper dive between days and more.

Make up some profiles to help do this quickly. Check out the AiM YouTube videos, almost two hundred out now, Matt, me and many others have contributed.

What article did you write for Dave Wallens and Tim Suddard? What system did you use?

 

Thank you very much for the ideas!

The article I wrote on data acquisition was published in SportsCar Magazine (SCCA) back in 1999. Most of what I learned at the time is somehow lost in my memory banks. About the only thing I can recall without digging it out of storage was that there may have been only one reasonably priced option for grassroots level racing at the time and the number of channels you could sample was fairly limited.

It was a fun experience. I managed to parlay it into a free advanced course at the old Derek Daly school. Bob Earle and Ronnie Bucknum’s son (Jeff?) were helpful in teaching me some of the basics they used at the school back then. And another guy I found on the old W2W online group who had a startup data acquisition business provided a lot of really good information.

P.S. What is this coasting you speak of? I always figured that my foot had to be firmly engaged with one pedal or another. 🤣

 

This is sort of like asking a chef what knife they like the most!

Where to dig in can really depend on the drivers skill level, but I would rarely start looking at splits first. As lots of people have pointed out, the lap time is made up of millions of variables and inputs and a split time is made up by those millions of inputs divided by the number of splits. It's still a course measurement.

If I'm at a track day and working with a group of intermediate drivers, I would look at the speed trace for coasting very early. When I'm working with professionals - I'm not looking for coasting right off. I would look at the shape of the speed trace first - are there good transitions from throttle to brake? Is brake release carrying speed into the corner? Min speed align with corner radius correctly? If you have throttle position - are there lifts on exit? What does the long G look like for brake application and release?

RS3 Analysis is great for AiM devices. I like how the SCHD videos come with some data, but I would not recommend using just that unless you have some large things to work on. Download the data from the S2DL and get the full power of the included math channels - there is coasting, on brake, on throttle, and a ton more. You can quickly make some analysis decisions really fast. The videos in my playlist show profiles, math channels, and more https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL...W6f5E1h3FZAGbk

 

I’ll check out these videos. Thank you!

 

Here's an AiM Sports video with suggestions by many top coaches on what to look at first in your S2DL data. Start at 10:30 in.

 

Awesome. Thank you!

 

It can be really hard to know where to start with data. The AiM Solo really does have loads you can do with it. You've had some great advice here from Peter and Matt. I would suggest, as you've not mentioned it before, that in my experience getting familiar with the delta-t (or time variance in AiM speak) channel will be really useful.

When you are comparing two laps of data, you can build on your sector time analysis by using this channel to show you corner by corner precisely where you are gaining or loosing lap time.

I've written a bit more about how the channel works on my site here:
https://www.yourdatadriven.com/intro...lysis-delta-t/

Also if you want to know how to visualise this channel in AiM Studio then scroll down on this page and click on "How to get time variance to show up"
https://www.yourdatadriven.com/til-t...d-motorsports/

Finally, if you're into your podcasts ? then I've had both Matt and Peter on the show. I asked them this "where do you start question" straight out and they gave some great responses. Other relevant guests you might enjoy listening too are James Colborn - the guy who does many of the most popular AiM help videos online, Andrew Rains - ceo of the Apex pro data logging hardward, and, when you're read to level-up !, the two shows with Jorge Segers - author of one of the seminal books on how to do motorsports data analysis.
https://www.yourdatadriven.com/your-...riven-podcast/

Best of luck! Sounds like fun times ahead

 

That is really helpful! Thank you.